GE Time

Radio NZ has a good summary of the case for allowing genetically modified plants and crops:

Parts of the farming community say they should have choice over whether to use GMOs or not.

But others, including the Minister for the Environment David Parker, argue there is no need to jump the gun on introducing GMOs into the environment.

In his last report as Chief Science Advisor for the prime minister, Sir Peter Gluckman has laid out the ways genetic modification or gene editing can benefit the agricultural sector with pasture management and emissions.

"New Zealand scientists have developed promising forages using genetic technologies that could be used to make major progress through higher energy, lipid rich rye grasses which are now in field trials in the United States.

We still don't have an answer to this question:

This matters.

New Zealand's agricultural sector could have a much-reduced carbon footprint if the government would let them use better grasses.

Do the Greens care more about global warming, or about banning GE? https://t.co/6kHGgdrmn0

— Eric Crampton (@EricCrampton) September 11, 2018

I suggest that, as part of any agricultural accession into the ETS, the Crown be liable for any additional costs falling on farmers because of the ban on using GE pastoral systems.